Pastor’s Blog, May 2008

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Progress digitizing Faith Assembly recorded sermons: May 21, 1995 a.m.

Monday, May 12, 2008
Through Psalm 134

4:05 p.m.

Yesterday I preached a message from Psalm 107, wherein I observed what happens to people who lose their grip on God and His Word as the one standard of right and wrong, truth and error, both in doctrine and in conduct. Without clinging to the Word, there is no protection against deceptions, errors, and wrong activities, all of which can hurt those who partake in them. As a result, many people are afraid to receive the spiritual food their souls so desperately need, at the same time as they are taking in deceptions that are poisoning their souls, and participating in activities that can only destroy them spiritually. As a result, hurt builds upon hurt; pain upon pain; until eventually they come to the place where they are afraid to receive anything that might nourish their souls. Gradually, they begin to waste away. Such is the picture in Psalm 107:17–18:

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

There may be material meaning here, but I am convinced the important truth relates to a spiritual starvation, as well as isolation from the very source of the solution to the need.

Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The significance of the fool is his denial of an unchanging standard. Therefore, he loses his bearings, his protection from going the wrong way, doctrinally and practically. There is only one solution, if they are at all to be saved from destruction.

19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Summary:
Verse 20 is commonly used as a proof text for divine healing, but in the context, we can see something more. It tells us that God sends His Word as the solution for the spiritual starvation that results from sin. The greatest sin is being the fool, who says in his heart, “There is no God.” Such a person has let go of the one and only means to discern good from bad, in doctrine and practice. The only solution, the only way they can be saved, is to cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He will save them by sending His Word to heal them. The Word heals by providing the one unchanging standard they need to overcome fear of believing wrong or doing wrong, so that they can now receive the benefits God has given to enable them to live their lives within His will, and under His blessing.
Oh, make no mistake: “He sent His Word to heal” physical diseases, too, because His Word contains the promises of healing, which we claim by faith when we need them. But what I am saying is, we can now see an added dimension, which is the answer for a lot of people who are mired down, dead in the water, out of fear of deception, because they’ve lost their grip on the Word of God as the final authority in doctrine and practice. God sent His Word for the purpose of answering that specific need. Praise the Lord!

Friday, May 9, 2008
Through Psalm 122

9:10 a.m.

I just wanted to update my Bible reading. Some verses that stood out to me as being especially fitting at the present time were from Psalms 119 and 120.

{Psalm 119:126} It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.
{Psalms 119:136} Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
{Psalms 119:150} They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.
{Psalm 120:7} I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.

The only hope for peace is total trust in God.

{Philippians 4:6-7} Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

May this day that the Lord hath made be to you a day of walking in the peace of God.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Through Psalm 118

8:25 a.m.

In yesterday’s blog, the last sentence was meant in sarcasm. I have revised that, adding another paragraph concerning interpretation of dreams and visions, because I don’t want anyone to think that the sentence in sarcasm is our belief or practice at Faith Assembly.
But, I need to say a bit more on this. There’s no Biblical “gift of dreams and visions,” or “gift of interpretation of dreams and visions,” as parallel to tongues and interpretation. God does give dreams and visions, in fulfillment of Joel 2:28–29,

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the serv-ants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

but it is not suggested that these are “gifts of the Spirit” separate from prophecy. In fact, it is not infrequent that when the utterance gift of prophecy operates (which is not the same thing as a man functioning in the office of prophet), it often involves sharing either a dream or vision God has given, and the interpretation is part of the utterance. These are all part of what God gives to the body of Christ through baptism in the Holy Spirit, which Peter correctly recognized as fulfilling this passage in Joel. Not that Pentecost, on that singular occasion, was the fulfillment, but that baptism in the Holy Spirit, whenever and wherever it is experienced, is the fulfillment.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Through Psalm 111

8:00 a.m.

Signs of the times, another installment (May 7 revision in curly braces {}.)
I hope no one considers it cowardly of me that I’ve revised the first blog on this subject to remove the name of man who sent me the original email. I did it at the Lord’s behest, to stop the mouths of those who would accuse me of bad mouthing, but also, not to give the man even that much mention as being associated at any time with us. God forbid for anyone to be tempted to look into this new deception because they read in these pages it came through that man. Even so, I have left enough information that anyone who knows can immediately recognize who I am talking about.

More information on Todd Bentley. He comes from — where else — Toronto Airport church, the place known for the so-called laughing revival. I am not sure how many of the major false “anointings” of the past 20 years can be traced back there, but it’s quite a lot of them, for sure. After Kenneth Copeland laid hands on Rodney Howard Brown, it sparked an absolute outbreak of unholy mockeries of the true anointing of God. From the mocking laughing revival, to the spectacle of people carrying on like animals, to the so-called “drunk in the Spirit” phenomenon (Brown bills himself as “God’s bartender”), thus encompassing also the Brownsville (Florida) revival of a few years ago, and now it is seen in this new signs and wonders show in Lakeland, Florida.
One more thing I have just heard is that Bentley also sports such gross body piercings as lip rings — one more sign of his identification with the world and its ways.

Just another deception to be aware of: I have heard something about a book having to do with interpretation of dreams and visions. This wasn’t in association with Todd Bentley, but with the prophetic movement in general. No, this is not a subject a man can write a book about, because the only true interpretation must come from the one who gives the dream or vision, following the principle of II Peter 1:20–2:1 that applies to interpreting Scripture. Of course, if the source of the dream or vision is a man, or the powers of darkness, they might be quite free in telling you what they want you to believe is the meaning. In fact, they might also be quite free to tell you what they want you to think is the meaning of a true dream or vision from God, but it won’t be the true interpretation. Can you see how easy it would be to reverse engineer dreams and visions to deceive, if you can convince people how a dream must be interpreted? Needless to say, you cannot interpret your own dream or vision, but you’ll need a bona fide prophet to do it for you!

{Pardon the sarcasm! We do not believe or practice that by any means, but, that is how the end time prophetic shepherdship movement operates. In fact, dreams and visions (as is true for utterances in tongues as a gift for the edification of the body), anticipate God also giving the interpretation. Only, there is no Biblical basis to say this requires some “recognized” prophet. God can give the interpretation to any yielded vessel He chooses, generally the one who had the dream or vision. More on this in the Wednesday blog.}

Sunday, May 4, 2008
Through Psalm 111

2:30 p.m.

Signs of the times, further comments
I do not consider it my calling in life to investigate and expose false ministries, but God is faithful to alert me to many of them. I did not mention the name before, but the minister is a Canadian man named Todd Bentley. The things I said Thursday still hold true, and I have received further information. A couple things I must mention are:

1) New and strange doctrines on angels and angelic manifestations. This information was passed on to me, and I did not dig further into it for more specifics. Suffice it to say that God gives clear warning, Colossians 2:18. “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,...” Teaching about angels is a means of attracting attention, since there is a lot of popular talk about the subject, and if anyone makes like he knows something, many people will listen to him, just out of curiosity.

2) Recruitment for “Joel’s army,” which is an army of destruction foretold in Joel 2. Sure, it’s God’s army, the same way that the Assyrians are described in Isaiah 10:5–19:

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.... (read the intervening verses in your Bible)
15 Shall the ax boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. 16 Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. 17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; 18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth. 19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.

It is a major error of the great prophetic movement today to equate the army described in Joel 2 with a great and irresistible end-time army of God that will sweep through the world with power, anointing, signs, and wonders, to bring in a harvest for the Kingdom of God. But it evidently takes something the prophetic movement does not have to see that you wouldn’t want to be part of Joel’s army! This is another reason we warn against this new ministry that is gaining so much attention. Let’s take a closer look.

Here is the description of Joel’s army, from Joel 2:1–11

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Clearly this is talking about a great destructive army of judgment, not an army to gather in a great end time harvest of souls. Again, it evidently requires something the prophetic movement does not have to discern the difference.
Of course, there’s nothing they want more than to be part of a great and irresistible move of God, which this obviously will be! But, not all power is God’s anointing! Not all signs and wonders are of God! This army produces devastation. It is the same army as described in Revelation 9, which you can look up yourself. The purpose of this army is to finally drive Israel to her knees, to seek God, as is seen in the next verses in Joel 2.

{Joel 2:12-17} Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

And God then reveals the result if Israel repents:

{Joel 2:18-19} Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19 Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:

He also reveals what will become of Joel’s army. Can you explain to me why anyone would want to be part of this final outcome of being in Joel’s army?

{Joel 2:20} But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.

If you want to be part of an end-time army, why not align yourself with the pattern of Gideon’s Army, in Judges 7–8? I won’t quote it here, but you can look it up yourself.

Thursday, May 1, 2008
Through Psalm 75

9:06 a.m.

Signs of the times {Revisions May 6, 2008 in curly braces}
I want to say first of all that writing this blog is very painful for me, just so you know I am not taking it lightly!
    I just received an email with a subject line of “This is IT!” coming from {a man who} was once was involved with Faith Assembly. {He was also the man who brought Paul Cain to Faith Assembly, and opened the door to Faith Assembly’s then involvement with a prophetic signs and wonders movement that ultimately led astray many sheep. So what I received today really was no surprise.} Not to go into a lot of detail, but the thrust of this email is that there is a “new” signs and wonders ministry in Florida that he thinks is evidence of a new “end time sonship anointing” that “we have all been looking for” these many years.
    It is not my purpose to bad-mouth anyone {This is why I have removed the name. But, I’m not saying anything here that is not true, so I really don’t need to remove it for my own protection}, but, I do have to make it clear that this is not the message of Faith Assembly, nor is it what the people who received the full message of faith, holiness, overcoming, and the deeper life in the spirit from Faith Assembly have been looking for all these years. Those who understood the message of Faith Assembly properly have been walking in that anointing for years, not looking for something else to come. People who understand the faith message and are “believing for a healing” are not running off to some healing signs and wonders minister to receive a healing which they, in fact, received immediately when they prayed the prayer of faith for healing!
    Jesus warned,

{Matthew 24:23-24} Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

We are told in II Thessalonians 2,

{II Thessalonians 2:7-12} For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We are not looking for, promoting, or getting involved with signs and wonders ministries which draw anyone and everyone for free goodies, appealing to “the anointing” (Christos in the Greek, hence, “Lo, here is Christos”), instead of genuine faith, and which do not require a profound, personal conversion, consecration, and holy walk as the precondition to understand God’s mind, know God’s will, and receive God’s power.
We know from Scripture that the true message is embraced only by a small remnant.

{Romans 9:27-29} Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

It has been popular to speak of the “short work” as God doing a quick work, in a hurry, of getting people up to speed. No, that is not the meaning, as can be seen in the context, but also as is even more clearly seen from the Greek. It is not a quick or hasty work, but it is a “cutting short” work; a work of cutting down the size of the remnant to only those who truly have a heart to give full surrender and consecration to God, to be His peculiar people, walking in holiness, separated from the world and its evil system.

Well, I just wanted to make it clear, the hype about what is going on in Florida does not line up with the message of Faith Assembly, either past or present. It may be what a lot of people got out of Faith Assembly in the past, but it is not the message of the Deeper Life in the Spirit book, the Faith book, the Charismatic Body Ministry book, or teachings on end time signs and wonders. This, no doubt, explains why Faith Assembly remains a work within a tiny remnant. But, we are seeing God at work in a fresh way. Is it even a surprise that, as God begins to move among us, there would also be a great new move as an attempt to draw people’s attention elsewhere? Beware, brothers and sisters. Beware!